We're building an accessible house for our retirement as well. I can't imagine that there's anything you don't already know. Are there any areas where you have particular questions?

Also, what resources have you used to learn how to design the house?

I might be able to share some info. if I know better what you're unsure of.

Well living with my parents and their disabilities for 18 years, I have a good idea of what their needs are.

I don't have any specific questions, maybe just more towards recent trends that have come out in the past few years? My only research has been first hand, so I haven't read up on a lot of current ideas.

We're designing the home ourselves, and then will take it to a green architect to make sure we're doing all we can, and then are hoping to pass that plan by a ADA knowledgable architect.

Thanks!

Of course, you will want the doorways wider and bath/shower area should have a reinforced area for grab bars. Add a seat in the shower with a hand held shower sprayer would be good if you don't do a tub. Toilet area should be large enough for a person in a wheelchair to transfer over to toilet. Instead of using round door knobs, use the long latch or handle type as they are easier to open. And cabinets should be accessible for them from wheelchair. If you look around your current home and picture what would be a challenge now for someone in a wheelchair, it might help you to realize what you will need to change for them.

If you want them to visit with you on the main floor, you could also consider adding an elevator. It may be more prudent in inclement weather than a covered walkway outdoors. Especially if it gets really cold where you live with ice or snow. Old people have a hard time regulating their body temps so you may wish to separate their heating/air conditioning area from your own somehow. You may not want it as warm upstairs.

If I were to recommend just one book to someone interested in accessible design it would be "Building for a lifetime" by Margaret Wylde, Adrian Baron-Robbins, and Sam Clark. It will answer your all your questions a dozen times over and provide the research to back it up. No affiliation, just a fan (I've read the book several times and referred to it hundreds).

Here is a link that might be useful: Building for a lifetime on Amazon

I absolutely second mrptb's nomination for the Sam Clark et.al. book. Can't beat it.

In designing our own home to be accessible, we worked with an architect who does mostly commercial work and therefore knows the ADA requirements better than most architects. But those requirements are for public spaces. She tended to rely on those overly much, to the exclusion of tailoring things to home use and also to the particular inhabitants of our home. So, we had to check everything ourselves. You can get a copy of those laws, but I don't think it's particularly helpful or necessary. Just try to find an architect or an interior designer who has residential ADA design experience. Might not be easy, depending on your location.

One thing I'd do is get your parents very involved in the planning. What would they like to see repeated in the new home and what could be improved?

I also second what zoe52 said about indoor access to the main level.

For longterm planning, what do your parents want if one/both of them can no longer function in the independent apartment? Will they move up to your quarters? I guess it's already all planned for full accessibility also for their visits. What I'm thinking is if you have to do more caretaking in the future, what will make it easier on YOU, as well as them?

I agree with all that has been said. We are building our home for the future as well.
We installed an elevator - I think it's number one on our list for access to and from the second floor.
when you add a backer, or support for your grab bars, my DH put in 1 1/8" plywood between some studs as well. this will allow you to change the height of the grab bars,without ripping up the wall to find the support, not all are created equal, some people over time will find a lower or slanted or vertical handle bar better than the standard horizontal.
I would recommend some radiant heating. Older people tend to have poorer circulation in their legs, etc. Not to mention all of the other great things radiant heating does.
Door levers vice handles, bin pulls vice small knobs
Lighting/video/audio access bedside, this includes phones, internet, etc.
I have a swing lamp just to the side of the master headboard for ease in turning on and off the light.
phone hardwired in bathroom (safety)
roll in showers, no lip, no shower pan, wide easy access into and out of the bathroom, toilet area and shower.
Single level access throughout home, or back to the elevator, single level access into and out of home, or look at ramps, etc.
If you get an elevator, size it correctly, so that a fairly large person with their leg extenders can easily manipulate themselves in and out of the elevator (we practiced this with a good friend of ours and sized our elevator to his size and needs)
Bathroom vanity pulls out in the center for someone in a wheelchair, and rolls back in when not needed

If I think of more, I'll post again, hope this is what you were looking for.

One tiny detail for your still-walking around mom? Look for door lever handles where the open end curves back toward the door. Harder to find. We have levers now (NOT the recurving style) and I am forever catching my clothes on them and getting rudely jerked. One day I'm going to break something or fall. So our new house gets recurved levers on all interior and exterior doors. See the link for Weiser's "Dane" style. Comes in entry door locksets and in interior passage door models.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weiser's Dane style door lever

Take a look at kitchen design and how your folks prepare their meals. Do the counters, stove, sink etc need to be at a height that is "scooter" accessible? Will you need a separate electric circuit and conveniently located outlets for charging their scooter batteries? Will you have an intercom and panic button wired in? Your planning ahead will pay off. Good luck. Tom

"We're likely going to do a 3 story house and give them the whole basement (walkout) with a covered path to the front porch and front door complete with ramp that they can use their motorized scooters to "commute"."

Where are you located? What is the weather like in your area? How steep will that slope be? I would consider an elevator.

We're in the Seattle Area where there is rain, but rarely snow or ice.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

I haven't seen any discussion on accessible windows - I don't have an answer, but I wonder whether opening windows is an issue for your parents.

Off the top of my head, I'd expect double-hung windows to be harder to open than casements.

I happen to be a compulsive window opener in good weather - I know other people rely on air conditioning and wouldn't consider open air.

Just a thought.

Claire

You want to consider mounting light switches lower, too. I don't know why they're so high in the first place! If it were me, I'd want to have a kitchen counter I could sit at. I wonder about getting clothes off the hangers? It might be hard from a wheelchair.